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James 4
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949
WEB
World English Bible · 2000
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901
1What is the cause of wars and fighting among you? is it not in your desires which are at war in your bodies?
1Whence comewars and whence come fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members?
1Whence comewars and whence come fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members?
2You are burning with desire, and have not your desire, so you put men to death; you are full of envy, and you are not able to get your desire, so you are fighting and making war; you have not your desire, because you do not make request for it.
2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.
2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.
3You make your request but you do not get it, because your request has been wrongly made, desiring the thing only so that you may make use of it for your pleasure.
3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.
3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.
4O you who are false to God, do you not see that the friends of this world are not God's friends? Every man desiring to be a friend of this world makes himself a hater of God.
4Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
4Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
5Or does it seem to you that it is for nothing that the holy Writings say, The spirit which God put into our hearts has a strong desire for us?
5Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?
5Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?
6But he gives more grace. So that the Writings say, God is against the men of pride, but he gives grace to those who make themselves low before him.
6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
7For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you.
7Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
7Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Make your hands clean, you evil-doers; put away deceit from your hearts, you false in mind.
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.
9Be troubled, with sorrow and weeping; let your laughing be turned to sorrow and your joy to grief.
9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10Make yourselves low in the eyes of the Lord and you will be lifted up by him.
10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
11Do not say evil against one another, my brothers. He who says evil against his brother or makes himself his brother's judge, says evil against the law and is judging the law: and in judging the law you become, not a doer of the law but a judge.
11Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
11Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12There is only one judge and law-giver, even he who has the power of salvation and of destruction; but who are you to be your neighbour's judge?
12One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?
12One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?
13How foolish it is to say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this town, and be there for a year and do business there and get wealth:
13Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:
13Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:
14When you are not certain what will take place tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist, which is seen for a little time and then is gone.
14whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
14whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15But the right thing to say would be, If it is the Lord's pleasure and if we are still living, we will do this and that.
15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.
15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.